How to Say "to rent" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to rent” is “alquilar” — use 'alquilar' when referring to renting most items, including cars, equipment, or even apartments, as it's the most common and versatile term.
alquilar
al-kee-LAHRalkiˈlaɾ
Examples
Vamos a alquilar una película esta noche.
We are going to rent a movie tonight.
Queremos alquilar un coche para ir a la playa.
We want to rent a car to go to the beach.
Ella alquila un apartamento pequeño en el centro.
She rents a small apartment downtown.
A perfectly regular verb
Alquilar follows the standard pattern for -ar verbs, making it very predictable and easy to learn.
Confusing the direction
Mistake: “Using a different word for 'rent out'.”
Correction: In Spanish, 'alquilar' means both to pay to use something AND to let someone use your property for money. The context tells you which is which.
rentar
ren-TARrenˈtaɾ
Examples
Rentar un apartamento en esta ciudad es muy caro.
Renting an apartment in this city is very expensive.
Queremos rentar un departamento cerca de la playa.
We want to rent an apartment near the beach.
Ella rentó un vestido elegante para la fiesta.
She rented an elegant dress for the party.
¿Sabes cuánto cuesta rentar un coche por un día?
Do you know how much it costs to rent a car for a day?
Borrowing vs. Lending
In many regions, 'rentar' can describe both the act of paying to use something and the act of receiving payment for someone else to use your property.
Rentar vs. Alquilar
Mistake: “Using 'rentar' in Spain for a house.”
Correction: In Spain, people usually say 'alquilar' for houses and cars. 'Rentar' there is mostly for financial profits.
Choosing Between Alquilar and Rentar
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